Lake Cumberland played host to the Crappie USA Super Event this past Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8, 2017. Over 110 anglers from several different states were competing for not only the $13,600.00 in cash and prizes, but a chance to advance to the prestigious Cabala’s Crappie USA Classic. This year’s classic will be held October 26 – 28, 2017 on Kentucky & Barkley Lakes at Paris, Tennessee.
Friday was mostly cloudy with temperatures in the mid 50’s and wind speeds up to 20 mph. Saturday saw sunny skies with temperatures warming up in the mid 60’s and winds slowing down to 5-10 mph.
Pro Division Results
Kris and Terry Mann, both of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky took first place in the Pro Division with a total weight of 24.29 pounds. They earned $3,000.00, plus and additional $500.00 Ranger Cup Bonus of $500.00, a Gamma Line Bonus and a $300 Driftmaster Bonus.
The team fished out of their Ranger 188 aluminum on the south end of Lake Cumberland, marking fish with their Humminbird electronics in 8 – 20 feet of water. Kris and Terry spider rigged to catch a couple of tournament fish, but mainly used one pole all day casting for suspended fish. Kris stated that “the fish were moving up in the water column, in part due to the sun, but mainly moving into spawn.” The team used Crappie Magnet jigs in yellow/chartreuse color to land around 100 fish for the weekend.
Jason Koesters of New Bremen, Ohio and Jake Hengstler of Botkins, Ohio took second place with a total weight of 22.32 pounds and earned $2,000.00. The team fished on the south end of the lake targeting fish by casting into 3 feet of water using both light and dark color Bobby Garland jigs to catch 150 fish for the tournament. The team stated that most of their tournament fish had already spawned.
Taking third place were David Jones of Knifely, Kentucky and Corey Thomas of Jamestown, Kentucky weighing in at 22.22 pounds and earning $1,000.00, plus an additional $250.00 Talon Bonus. The team fished the south west end of Lake Cumberland using Tac Pac lures in lemon lime color. They found fish in 4 – 5 feet of water on Day 1 and moved out to where the fish were in 8 – 9 feet of water on Day 2 to land 35 total fish for the event.
Amateur Division Results
Joseph and Paul Aaron, both of Russell Springs, Kentucky took first place in the Amateur Division with a total weight of 23.69 pounds and earned $1,900.00. The local team fished the southeast part of the lake casting a float using live bait. They were targeting spawning fish in 2 ½ feet of water. Their biggest fish was in the 10 heaviest Big Fish weights with a 2.25 pounder.
Taking second place was Will Rogers of Harrodsburg, Kentucky and Eric Kersey of Danville, Kentucky weighing in at 23.63 pounds and earning $1,000.00. The team targeted the south end of Lake Cumberland casting green/chartreuse jigs in 6 – 10 feet of water to land over 70 fish for the weekend.
Justin Creech and Ezekiel Reynolds, both of Somerset, Kentucky took third place of the event weighing in at 22.63 pounds and earning $500.00. The team also fished the south end of the lake casting Bobby Garland jigs in 4 – 6 feet of water to catch over 300 fish in the 2 day tournament.
In fourth place was Raymond Wright of Liberty, Kentucky and Larry Buis of Yosemite, Kentucky with a total weight of 22.53 pounds and earned $400.00. The team targeted Caney Creek using their Humminbird to find suspended fish in 20 feet of water. Larry added that even though they were in 20 feet of water, the fish were holding up in 4 feet of water. They used both minnows and bobbers to catch 20 fish for the event.
Ben Garland and Barry Turpen took fifth place weighing in at 22.20 pounds and earned $300.00, plus an additional $230.00 2nd Place Big Fish. The Nancy, Kentucky team fished the south end of Lake Cumberland casting Bobby Garland jigs under a bobber in 2 – 3 feet of water to land 80 total fish for the weekend. The teams 2nd Place Big Fish weighed in a 2.37 pounds.
Craig Delk of Stanford, Kentucky and Chris Morgan of Yosemite, Kentucky took sixth place with a total weight of 22.03 pounds and earned $300.00.
Seventh place went to Travis and Randy Neal, both of Monticello, Kentucky weighing in at 21.01 pounds and earning $200.00, plus an additional $850.00 Big Fish + New X-treme Bait Tank.
Robert Matheny and Samuel Franke, both of Shepherdsville, Kentucky finished in eighth place with a total weight of 19.85 pounds and earned $200.00.
Michael Bray and Jonathan Wilson won the $125.00 Ranger Cup Bonus.
A special thank you to Carolyn and staff with the Somerset – Pulaski County Convention and Visitors Bureau for hosting the event and as always, helping make the tournament run extremely smooth. We also want to thank the CVB because the 2018 Classic will return to Lake Cumberland due to their support. Thank you to Pulaski County Parks for allowing us to use the 800 acre park for the weigh-in, which is one of the finest weigh-in sites we have been to! “Lake Cumberland is truly a big black crappie manufacturing plant. This lake posts some of the best weights in the country and we couldn’t be happier to call it home”.
National Sponsors of Crappie USA are: Cabela’s, Ranger Boats, Mercury, Mustad, B ‘n’ M Poles, Minn Kota, Humminbird Electronics, Gamma, Adventure Products EGO Nets, J.R. Mad’s, Charlie Brewer’s Slider Co., Big Bite Baits, TTI-Blakemore Road Runner, Driftmaster Rod Holders, World Fishing Network-WFN, Cumberland Crappie Double Seat Mounts, Church Tackle Company, Crappie Now on-line Magazine, Talon Shallow Water Anchors, Humminbird/Lakemaster Maps, Sunsect Sunscreen & Insect Repellent, Digital EFX Wraps, Gill Rainwear, AWD Baits, Tentnology, Crappie Magnet, Crown Trophy and Jenko Fishing.
The following companies furnish product to help make these events possible: Kodiak Fish Attractants, Rigrap and Keep Alive.
For more information please call Crappie USA at 502-384-5924. Be sure to check out our website at: www.crappieusa.com and like our Crappie USA Tournament Trail Facebook Page. Both sites contain new and exciting information on our events along with special information for crappie anglers everywhere.
